SWAN LAKE MOUNTAIN

1929: " It is quite likely that the lack of funds necessary for the construction of several miles of road will postpone the use of Swan Lake Ridge as a lookout, to the next fiscal year." (FY 1929 Annual Forestry Report, Klamath Agency)

1930: " An eighty foot steel tower has been purchased for the proposed Swan Lake Point Lookout and will be erected during the coming fall or winter months. This station will complete the lookout system on the reservation, clearing up practically all of our present “blind area”. The 80 foot tower and freight will cost approximately $1,140.00." (FY 1931 Annual Forestry Report, Klamath Agency)

1932: " The eighty-foot steel tower, purchased for the new Swan Lake Lookout, will be erected during July 1932. This station will clear up a considerable amount of our present unseen areas. The equipment will consist of an Osborne fire finder, field glasses and sling psychrometer." (FY 1932 Annual Forestry Report, Klamath Agency)

1934: " A new cabin will be built at this station under ECW during the next month." (FY 1934 Annual Forestry Report, Klamath Agency)

1934: The ground cabin used for living quarters was completed on December 27th, at a cost of $839.60. The 12x16 building was heated by wood for fuel.

September 25, 1937: " Construction of the Swan Lake Point truck trail has just been started by a small crew of men established at the Algoma Lumber Company’s abandoned logging camp in the Antelope Valley Timber Unit. The starting of this project has been somewhat delayed by reason of the necessity of making repairs on the “40" and “50” caterpillar tractors. Approximately two and one half miles of trail will be constructed. The right-of-way will be cleared to a width of 24 feet. The trail will be flat-bladed to a wide of 12 feet. The average grade will be seven percent with the steepest pitch ten percent. Two 18” iron culverts will be installed. In addition, approximately three miles of old trail will be improved by grading and widening." (Report to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs)

1938: " Justification of proposals for 1938-39. No. 131 – Swan Lake truck trail. This project was started in 1937 but due to the rocky ground, the money set up for the project was insufficient to finish the job. There remains a distance of three miles to grade. The trees have already been cut on the right-of-way, but the road cannot be used in its present condition. In order to remain within the annual per enrollee maximum expenditure considerable hand labor can be used in finishing this road." (Conservation Work Plan Report 1938-39)

​​July 3, 1947: “Mr. and Mrs. Claude Parazoo and family left on Sunday for Swan Lake lookout, where they will be stationed this summer. They took as their guests Mrs. Parazoo's brother and nephews from the Deadwood district in the Black Hills of South Dakota.” (The Chiloquin Review)

September 9, 1947: "​Mrs. Claude Parazoo, who has been with her husband this summer on Swan Lake lookout, is moving to Klamath Agency lookout for the remainder of the season so the school children of the family can register at the beginning of the school year." (Herald and News)

September 12, 1962: "Firefighters of the Winema National Forest have extinguished a small brush fire which started noon Tuesday at Lone Pine, near the Sprague River, the headquarters of the national forest has reported. The fire was detected by the guard at the Swan Lake Lookout and burned eight-tenths of an acre before it was extinguished by a six-man firefighting crew.​ It was the 51st fire reported in the Winema National Forest this year." (Herald and News)

August 23, 1965: "We have discussed on several occasions the need to replace the Swan Lake lookout. I talked to Ken Wilson about this briefly last week. He recalls visiting the station a year ago, and agrees that it should have high Regional priority for replacement. Ken suggests that we proceed immediately with a visibility study and documentation of the need for replacement. I think I suggested some pictures. Proposals for next year building construction program are due soon. We should be sure that this project is included in the proposed FY67 program. John Grove from this office will be available to help with your study. A good justification statement is needed so that Swan Lake can be placed high on the Regional priority list. Even with the best of luck, it may be several years before the new station is completed. There is much that can be done to improve the livability and appearance of the Swan Lake station. Paint, soap and water will do a great deal. Maintenance cost should be kept nominal, but some maintenance should be done annually until this station is replaced." (Memo From Forest Supervisor, Winema to District Ranger, Chiloquin R.D.)

1973: Swan Lake in the Chiloquin Ranger District will not be manned during the entire fire season, because of increased cooperation between the Winema National Forest and the KFPA. This lookout will only be manned during periods of peak fire danger.

1979: The lookout was dismantled.

The NGS Data Sheet

STATION DESCRIPTION

DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1933 (FGJ) THIS INTERSECTED AND UNCHECKED POSITION IS THE CENTER OF THE TALL STEEL LOOKOUT TOWER OF THE U.S. INDIAN SERVICE ON THE TOP OF SWAN LAKE POINT, CLOSE TO THE S BOUNDARY OF THE KLAMATH INDIAN RESERVATION, IN THE S PART OF T. 36 S., R. 9 E. THE TOWER IS ABOUT 100 FEET HIGH AND WAS BUILT IN 1932.

STATION RECOVERY (1967)

RECOVERY NOTE BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1967 (CAA) STATION IS LOCATED ABOUT 15 MILES NORTH-NORTHEAST OF KLAMATH FALLS AND 14 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CHILOQUIN ATOP SWAN LAKE MOUNTAIN.